Sleeping With Santa (17 page)

“Fine.”

“Bring us something special,” he said to the waitress.

“So…what else did Sophia say?” she probed. He was such a vault, downplaying the details regarding the conversation that sparked the urgency for this unscheduled date.

“Not much.” He gave a slight shrug then sipped his seltzer.

“Well, I’ll be sure to tell her all about it tomorrow morning.” She twirled the ice in her cherry soda with the straw.

“Make sure you show her the receipt if she wants proof.” He winked. “But the Barbieris are right—you deserve to be treated like a lady.”

A salad bowl-sized sundae arrived with two long-handled spoons.

“A lady doesn’t need twelve scoops of ice cream.”

Nick dug in first. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”

“My hero,” Lily teased, shoveling a fluffy mound whipped cream covered with rainbow sprinkles into her mouth.

The sundae didn’t stand a chance. They annihilated it while talking about Nick’s past and their future.

“So, your grandmother raised you?”

“I never knew my dad. I don’t even think my mother knew him beyond that one night. She tried doing it as a single parent, but it was a struggle. Eventually, she met some guy. They fell in love and wanted to get married, start a life together—a life that didn’t include kids. I guess that’s why I want my own. I think I’d be a great father.”

Lily nodded. “I think so, too.”

“Really? You do?”

“Of course. You’re a great…guy. I’m sure you’d be an excellent dad.”

“What about a husband? That’s an important component to get from point A to point B, dontcha think?”

“We’ve only known each other two months. Aren’t we moving a little fast?”

“Maybe. But it feels right, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, but…”

“But, what? I’m thirty-six and all grown up,” he said with a dab of strawberry ice cream on his chin. “I’m ready now. For marriage. Kids. The works. I’m just waiting on you.” He took another mouthful and stared at her with earnest eyes, as if he was waiting for an answer to an unasked question.

It was impossible to hide the smirk no matter how hard she tried. “Nick.”

“I know. I know. You’re not sure about kids.”

“Never mind what I said before.” Lily waved the words away. “I’d love to make a baby with you…one day.”

“I’m not even going to ask if you’re sure. I’m gonna take your word for it.”

Lily envisioned their best qualities combined to make a new little person. There was no doubt Nick was the only man for her. “I like you better than most people I’ve known my whole life.” The words fell from of her lips as natural as rain.

“I know exactly how you feel.”

“Where’s your grandmother now?”

The light in his bright eyes dimmed. “She passed away when I was in the Marines.”

“I’m sorry.” She bit back a tear for the broken-hearted little boy inside this virile man.

“Grandma Dorothy would have loved you.”

“I wish I could have met her.”

“She was a spunky little lady. And a great cook. I know all her recipes.” Nick tapped his finger against his skull.

“You oughta write them down.”

“You’re right. I will. Someday.”

“So, how’d you meet Tristan?”

“He lived next door to Grandma.”

“You’ve been best friends for a long time.”

“More like brothers. He’s a cop in Star Harbor. He and I do carpentry on the side. As kids, we constructed this incredible fort in his backyard from stuff we stole from the neighborhood. I helped him build the nursery for his daughter. It came out amazing. I got pictures...” He pulled out his Smartphone and swiped the screen. “Wait I missed a bunch of calls. Speaking of Tristan…” He stood, staring at the device like it was a lifeline. “It might be something important. I’ll be right back.”

“I’m going to use the ladies’ room.” Lily went with him to the lobby before heading in separate directions after a parting kiss.

The bathroom was the size of her whole bungalow and elegant like the lobby with the same touch of holiday flair. A marble partition separated the toilet stalls from the sinks and mirrors. Soft piped-in music played a piano rendition of Jingle Bells. There was even a sofa and a baby changing station.

She aimed for the vanity counter to check her reflection for any remnants of hot fudge.

Despite her best effort to mind her business, it was impossible to tune out the calamity from one of the stalls—a bawling baby, and a mother begging it to stop.

“I’ll find it. Or I’ll get you a new one. Just stop crying already! Please!” The mother’s frustration echoed in the confined space. Then the stall door flung open, and she rushed out of the restroom with the child in her arms.

Lily stepped out a moment later.

On the way to the lounge, she spied a tattered scrap of pink fabric and picked it up—no doubt, that baby’s blanket. The woman was nowhere in sight, so Lily gave it to an employee in case someone came looking for it.

By the time she got back to the table, Nick was already there with a pensive look on his pale face. “Everything okay?”

“Not really.”

****

As soon as Lily mentioned the baby and mother in the bathroom, Nick knew exactly who it was. He called Tristan on the spot to give him the update. Then he grabbed her arm after slapping a couple of hundred dollar bills on the table.

“Where’d you see ’em?” His eyes scanned every face.

“In the bathroom. But they left ahead of me. I don’t know which way they went.”

“Where was the blanket?”

“There.” She pointed to the wall, near a coffee table with a plate of complimentary cookies, beside a heavy leather chair.

There was no other evidence that Nicole and Claudine might be here. Just Lily’s observation of two platinum blondes and a pink baby blanket. “Are you sure the blanket had lambs on it?”

“Pretty sure. It was square. About this big.” She gestured the shape and size. “The girl was young…a toddler. I don’t know. I’m not really a good guesser when it comes to age.”

“You’re awesome.” He kissed her head. “It’s gotta be them.”

“I don’t understand…” Lily followed him to the hotel manager’s office as he explained the details of a probable kidnapping.

Then Nick phoned Chief Maresca. “My buddy Tristan is gonna call you. Can you give him a contact person at the police department? We think his sister snatched his daughter, and she may have come here looking for me. My ex is bipolar, but I can’t imagine her hurting the child. Then again, I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

“If I knew…I would have done something…” Lily was nearly in tears.

He hugged her, trying to get her to calm down before she freaked him out even more. “Relax. I’ll find her. Everything’s going to be fine. Don’t worry.” He hoped he was right. “Go find the blanket.”

The manager checked the records, but no one named Claudine was registered. Nick didn’t know her new married name, so he asked to see the list of guests. “Stacy Casanova! She probably swiped the credit card from Tristan’s wife.”

“Room 429,” said the manager.

On the way to the elevator, Nick met Lily in the lobby. “Yep. That’s Nicole’s.” He smelled the blanket for memory’s sake, praying silently that his ex-wife hadn’t completely lost her mind to pull such a stunt. “Stay down here. Wait for the chief. I don’t need you in the middle of this.”

“But…” Lily’s eyes were bright with fear as the elevators closed.

Of all the stupid, careless, selfish things Claudine has ever done, taking off with Nicole tops them all. When he found the room, he pressed his ear to the door before knocking. “Room service.”

No one answered.

He thought about calling her cell phone but didn’t want to do anything that might make matters worse.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated, and for once he was glad it was Claudine. “Hello?” He stepped to the end of the hallway, keeping his eye on room 429.

“Hi!” She sounded shocked. “I can’t believe you answered. It’s so good to hear your voice.”

Nick choked back the bile. “Yeah, yours too. How ya been? Long time, no see.”

“Too long. But I have a surprise for you.”

“You know how much I love your surprises.” Nick squeezed his hand into a tight fist, tempted to punch a hole in nearest wall.

“I’m getting divorced. Again. Isn’t that…terrible.” Claudine started weeping. “I screwed up another one, Nick. What’s wrong with me?”

Everything.
“Maybe it’s not you,” he lied. “Maybe it’s the men you pick.”

“I picked you. I should have never left.”

With nothing better to say, he rattled a string of clichés. “Well, what’s done is done. One door closes, another opens. All you can do is move forward from here. The best is yet to come. Hey, is that Nicole I hear in the background. How is that little angel?”

“Yep. That’s our precious, little goddaughter.” Claudine perked up and started speed-talking. “She’s doing great. She misses you.”

“She told you that?”

“Well, I can just tell.”

“You always were the perceptive one.”

“I am. I think I would have made a great mother…”

“Probably.” Strobe lights out the window caught his attention. Five cop cars parked along Main Street with the sirens off, cherries and berries on. “So, whatcha doin’?” He hated pretending everything was normal.

“I’m on a mini-vacation.”

“With Nicole? Sounds like fun. I talked to Tristan a few minutes ago. He told me about Stacy. He really appreciates your help.”

“Is that what my brother said?” She sounded nervous, as she should.

Lying came easier with each word. “Oh, yeah. He’s thrilled. So, where ya staying?”

“Well…” Claudine exhaled an uneasy laugh. “I’m actually at the Scenic View Inn.”

“Isn’t that something! I’m in Scenic View, too. Got transferred here a few months ago.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I came. To find you—surprise.”

“You’re always full of surprises.” He faked a laugh through clenched teeth.

“So, you’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad?” Several reasons popped in his mind—harassment, stalking, kidnapping…

The elevator door opened and six cops filed out.

Nick signaled as they cautiously approached room 429. He pointed to the cell phone against his ear, then toward the door, and gave a thumbs-up, while listening to his ex-wife’s teary meltdown.

“I just miss you so much. No one understands me like you. Maybe we can try again. It’s like I can’t breathe without you…”

“Take it easy, okay? Everything’ll be all right. Why don’t you and Nicole meet me in the restaurant? I can be there in five minutes.”

Four minutes later, the cops cuffed Claudine in the hallway, her face pinned to the carpet, thrashing and screaming like a banshee, threatening to kill everyone in sight.

Nick grabbed his godchild and escaped in the elevator.

The moment the doors slid open, Lily was right there waiting. “What happened?”

“They arrested Claudine. Nicole seems all right, thank God.” The child yawned, barely able to lift her head off Nick’s shoulder.

The sergeant on the scene offered to send an officer over later to take the report and deliver the child’s belongings once the investigation was complete.

“Come on.” Lily nudged. “Let’s get her to bed.”

Chapter Sixteen

Despite the sub-degree temperature, Lily power walked to work feeling a whole lot better than she did after last night’s fiasco with Nick’s ex-wife.

The date was great.

Rescuing the child was even better.

The uncertainty in between had Lily’s nerves in knots. She’d almost called in sick today, wanting to be home to help him with Nicole.

But he had things under control, so she went a little late.

Besides, she wanted to tell her bosses all about the good parts of the date to get Sophia off her case—but the woman wasn’t even there.

Bob avoided any deep conversation, lost in his own thoughts. Eventually, he explained how his wife had gone away for a few days, on the first flight this morning to Florida, to watch the grandkids while his daughter and her husband hashed out the details of their divorce.

Between Nick’s friend and the Barbieri’s daughter, it seemed everyone one was getting divorced these days.

Lily hugged Bob, a quick, tight squeeze around his mid-section.

“I needed that.” He sighed with a strained smile.

Bob was such a good man. A good boss. Father. Husband. Friend. Lily was lucky to have him in her life. And she was lucky to have found a man of her own who compared.

Nick should be here soon to pick her up, so she gathered her things but felt guilty leaving Bob alone tonight.

“Do you want to grab some dinner?”

“Just you and me? Or your
roommate
, too?” He gave her a curious look.

“Thanks for not judging me. Sophia makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong because I like him. And renting the spare room helps with the bills.”

“Don’t mind her. She means well. But she’s a control freak. Hopefully you won’t turn into one after you have a family of your own.”

“We went on a date last night—dinner at the Scenic View Inn.” She left out all the other details, figuring Bob had enough on his mind, and the story about the kidnapping would eventually make it down the grapevine.

“Fancy schmancy. Did he pay?” Bob joked with a broken smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Of course.” Lily sighed. “I really hope everything works out for your daughter and the kids.”

“Yeah, me too. Children need two parents. I know that if your father were still alive, your mother wouldn’t have…” He shook his head and made the sign of the cross. “I mean, what I’m saying is…your father kept her grounded. They were good for each other. She never got over the loss. That’s the saddest part, because she had to take care of you.” He gasped as he preached, struggling with the poignant words. “I always keep you in my prayers, Lily. In here…” He pointed to his heart, then groaned and clutched his chest.

She nibbled a fingernail expecting him to finish his sentence, but something wasn’t right. “Bob? You okay?”

He folded to the floor.

“Bob!” Paralyzed by fear, the nanoseconds passed. “What do I do? What do I do?” She was petrified to put her knowledge into action.